White House adopts new coronavirus safety precautions
WASHINGTON – The White House is taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of the president and his staff after two administration aides tested positive for the coronavirus.
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are to be tested daily for the virus, as will every staff member in proximity to them. White House guests will be tested, workspaces will undergo regular deep cleaning, and staff will follow social distancing guidelines, undergo daily temperature checks and have their symptom histories reviewed, White House spokesman Judd Deere said Sunday.
“The president’s physician and White House operations continue to work closely to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the president, first family and the entire White House complex safe and healthy at all times,” Deere said.
The extra safety steps come after a chaotic week in which aides to Trump and Pence tested positive for the coronavirus and three members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force entered quarantine after being close to someone diagnosed with the disease.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, an infectious disease expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, announced Saturday that he will begin a “modified quarantine,” working from home after coming into contact with someone who has the virus. Fauci has tested negative for the virus but will be tested regularly and will monitor his temperature and other health indicators, a spokesperson for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said.
Two other coronavirus task force members – Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration – said they will self-quarantine after coming in contact with a person who tested positive.
All three and another task force member – Adm. Brett P. Giroir, assistant secretary of health at the Department of Health and Human Services – were scheduled to appear Tuesday before a Senate committee to testify about the administration’s response to the virus. They will appear by videoconference instead.
“After consulting with Dr. Fauci, and in an abundance of caution for our witnesses, senators, and the staff, all four Administration witnesses will appear by videoconference due to these unusual circumstances,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
None of the task force members in quarantine identified the infected person with whom they had contact. But Miller often attends task force briefings in her role as the press secretary for Pence, who has been leading the White House’s coronavirus response.
Meanwhile, a personal assistant to Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, also has tested positive for coronavirus, according to multiple news reports. The assistant has been teleworking.